PLANS for a centre aimed at providing a community with quality child care took a step closer.

A turf-cutting ceremony was held at the site of the Bullion Lane Sure Start Children's Centre to celebrate the beginning of building work behind the Bullion Lane Primary School.

It was carried out by Bullion Lane headteacher Alan Verheyden with the help of local boy Jamie Underwood, aged two.

The Children's Centre has been made possible with funding from the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative, with some of the land gifted by Chester-le-Street District Council. Buttercups Nursery will be providing the day care.

Programme manager Chris McKay said: "It is going to be a fantastic base from which to deliver Sure Start services in the wider sense - giving the children the very best start in life and bringing benefts to whole community.

"Health, social care, service information and training opportunities, as well as social activities, will be available to pre-school children and their families."

The district council has contributed 1,265sq m of land worth £35,000, with Sure Start paying all other costs associated with its disposal. Council leader Linda Ebbatson said they were delighted that SureStart in Chester-le-Street had made good use of this land by establishing the Children's Centre.

"It is very rare for the council to dispose of land in this way, but it is an investment to benefit children in the district."